MICHAEL BIRKENSHAW SENTENCED IN WAKEFIELD FOR SEXUAL OFFENCES INVOLVING YOUNG GIRLS IN KIRKLEES

A man named Michael Birkenshaw, aged 37, from Wakefield, has been handed an eight-year prison sentence after being convicted of a serious sexual offence involving a young girl. The sentencing took place at Leeds Crown Court, which has been overseeing a comprehensive investigation into historical sexual abuse cases in North Kirklees, including the towns of Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, and surrounding areas.

These cases are part of a larger, multi-year operation known as Operation Tourway, which was launched to uncover and prosecute instances of non-recent sexual exploitation, abuse, and trafficking of young girls in the region. The investigation has revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse spanning from 1999 to 2012, involving multiple offenders who targeted vulnerable victims.

In the recent sentencing session, Birkenshaw was found guilty of a rape offence committed against a minor. His conviction is part of a broader crackdown that has seen 24 men sentenced so far for their roles in the exploitation of eight young girls in North Kirklees. The court proceedings have uncovered a grim history of abuse, with some offenders receiving sentences exceeding 30 years, although many of these were initially protected by reporting restrictions to ensure fair trials.

Following the lifting of these restrictions, the identities and sentences of the convicted men are now publicly available. Among them are individuals from various towns in the region, including Batley, Dewsbury, Heckmondwike, and Wakefield. For instance, Khurum Raziq, aged 42 from Heckmondwike, received a 22-year sentence after being convicted of eight counts of rape. Nasar Hussain, 46, from Dewsbury, was sentenced to 18 years for three rape offences, while Zafar Qayum, 44, also from Dewsbury, received a significant 30-year term for multiple counts of rape, indecent assault, and aiding and abetting.

Other notable sentences include Ansar Qayum, 47, from Dewsbury, who was sentenced to 20 years for four counts of rape and attempted indecent assault, and Mohammed Jabbar Qayum, 43, from Dewsbury, who received 13 years for two rape offences. The sentences extend to other offenders such as Mohammed Imran Zada, 45, from Batley, who was sentenced to 15 years for multiple offences, and Amran Mehrban, 40, from Batley, who received 13 years for rape and assault by penetration.

Michael Birkenshaw’s case stands out as he was convicted of a single rape offence and sentenced to eight years in prison. His conviction is part of a series of prosecutions that have uncovered a disturbing network of abuse involving multiple offenders across West Yorkshire. The investigation was initiated after safeguarding detectives began examining reports of abuse dating back several years, with initial arrests made from November 2018. The suspects were formally charged in December 2020, and the court proceedings have been ongoing since then, culminating in the recent sentencing at Leeds Crown Court.

These cases highlight the persistent efforts of law enforcement to bring justice to victims of historical abuse and to dismantle networks of exploitation that have long haunted the communities of North Kirklees and Wakefield. The sentences handed down reflect the severity of the crimes committed and serve as a stark reminder of the importance of safeguarding vulnerable children from predatory offenders.